Nigeria: FG, evacuees reject South Africa’s claim that repatriated Nigerians were undocumented
By Zuleihat Owuiye, Nigeria
The Federal Government and 268 Nigerians repatriated from South Africa on June 11 have rejected Pretoria’s claim that all evacuees were undocumented and living illegally. They blamed delays in South Africa’s Home Affairs system for pushing many into irregular status.
South Africa’s Head of Immigration Enforcement, Stephen van Neel, had said shortly before the evacuees departed OR Tambo International Airport that “none of the 268 Nigerian nationals who arrived at OR Tambo for repatriation on Wednesday are in South Africa legally.” He added that they were slammed with a five-year travel ban.
But Nigeria’s acting High Commissioner to Pretoria, Ambassador Temitope Ajayi, who led the returnees back to Lagos, dismissed the claim. “Many of these people you are seeing here are not undocumented persons,” he said. “Many became undocumented because of systemic failures of South African Home Affairs. Some submitted requests for extension of their resident permits for years. It takes two, three, five years. In the process, they were caught up in this.” He described Home Affairs as a transactional system with backlogs that left legitimate applicants stranded.
Ajayi said President Bola Tinubu initiated the evacuation in April after xenophobic violence erupted. The President set up a hotline with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the mission in Pretoria for daily updates. “Mr President was so agitated and wanted his people to return to Nigeria,” Ajayi said. He added that Tinubu faced pressure from world leaders and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to halt the repatriation over “bad optics,” but insisted: “Any attack on my people in South Africa is an attack on me, and you must bring my people back.”
The government arranged five Air Peace flights. The June 11 arrival was the first batch of 268 evacuees, including women, men, and children. Further flights are scheduled for June 15, 18, 22, and 24. Ajayi explained that the process involved three-stage screening with South African authorities: biometric identification, immigration clearance, and issuance of emergency travel certificates for those without documents. He lamented that South African officials broke an agreement not to speak to the press until the operation was completed.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Amb. Sola Enikanolaiye, said the government will activate the Nigeria-South Africa Binational Commission and a newly established Early Warning Mechanism to respond faster to future threats. “Our job is to manage relations. Even under the most difficult circumstances, we believe in diplomacy, engagement, and dialogue,” he said.
Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard Doro, said the returnees are being profiled to guide referrals for psychological support, skills development, livelihood linkages, medical care, family reunification, and documentation assistance.
NiDCOM Chairman/CEO Abike Dabiri-Erewa said relief packages have been secured from private firms and state governments. Governor Hope Uzodimma pledged N1 million for each Imo returnee. MTN Nigeria said it will transfer N100,000 to each returnee’s account, provide N50,000 airtime, and starter phone pack
Many returnees rejected the “illegal migrant” label and said the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria also frustrated their efforts to renew documents. One evacuee, Peace, who lived in South Africa for 13 years, alleged that commission officials collected R2,700 each from over 9,000 Nigerians in Johannesburg for passport booklets during 2023 elections, but only 500 passports were delivered.
Another returnee, Emmanuel Nwachukwu, alleged that Nigerians face frequent harassment and extortion by police and other agencies. “Once they know you are a Nigerian, they come to extort you. Day in and day out they are doing that,” he said. He also accused immigration authorities of creating obstacles for those trying to leave.
Sandra Omotala-Adeniyi, 26, who spent 11 years in South Africa, said she returned to continue her education because foreign students rarely get study permits or bursaries. She warned other Nigerians to return home: “Guys, just come home, it’s going to get worse. They are going to keep on looting, attacking, and molesting our people.”
Air Peace Chief Commercial Officer Nowel Ngala said the airline’s involvement reflects its chairman Allen Onyema’s commitment to national interest and compassion. He said discussions are ongoing for additional evacuation flights if needed.
